Heroin addict jailed after robbing kind-hearted woman who gave him a lift in Fareham

Ben Fishwick

Police ask for help in finding missing teenager last seen in Fareham

Homeless 23-year-old stole £170 from pensioner and took his own mum’s car

A HEROIN addict who robbed a kind-hearted woman who gave him in a lift in her car has been jailed for more than two years.

Carl Kennedy admitted a string of offences, including stealing £170 from a pensioner who gave him a place to stay and stealing his mum’s phone.

I don’t think I will be able to see the good in people and this is down to a thoughtless, heartless scumbag who obviously has no feelings for other people

Robbery victim

The 23-year-old, of no fixed address, appeared at Portsmouth Crown Court.

Dawn Hyland, prosecuting, told the court he stole cash from 70-year-old Anthony Sexton in St Anne’s Grove, in Fareham after running an errand for him on October 27.

Kennedy returned with Mr Sexton’s cash but then snatched the money and fled.

Then on November 3 Kennedy flagged down Rachel Rhodes in Fareham asking for a lift to see his ‘unwell’ father.

In Kiln Road he got out of the car and while it was slightly moving still went to the front passenger door and grabbed her handbag – she pulled back but he managed to grab it.

She ran after him but he was detained by a passer-by.

In a statement the victim said: ‘I was afraid of him pulling a knife or causing me a serious injury.’

In a further statement she added: ‘I don’t think I will be able to see the good in people and this is down to a thoughtless, heartless scumbag who obviously has no feelings for other people.’

Kennedy had been living in his mother’s shed in Keyhaven Drive, Havant, as she did not let him stay in the house.

But when she was about to give him a lift on November 19 he stole her iPhone and ‘wrenched’ the car keys from her hands and took the car.

Police later found him with the car and £100 in cash he got after selling the phone.

Berenice Mulvanny, defending, said Kennedy committed the crimes because of his abuse of heroin.

But she added: ‘He is completely free of drugs. He’s a completely different person and is genuinely remorseful, shocked and ashamed.’

Judge Claudia Ackner sentenced Kennedy to a year and eight months for the robbery, six months for the theft from Mr Sexton, six months for stealing from his mother, one month for taking her vehicle without consent, and six points for driving with no insurance.

He received no separate penalty for breaching a conditional discharge.

In total he was sentenced to two years and eight months. He pleaded guilty to all charges.